title: Associations of serum n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids with echocardiographic measures among older adults: the Hoorn Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lower circulating polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may induce loss of heart function. We investigated whether lower concentrations of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs were associated with less favourable echocardiographic measures and higher heart rate in older Caucasians, cross-sectionally and after 7 years of follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from the Hoorn Study, a population-based cohort. Cross-sectional data were available for 621 participants and longitudinal data for 336 participants. Mean age was 68.6±6.8 years at baseline. We performed linear regression analyses using n-3 and n-6 PUFAs quartiles-assayed by gas liquid chromatography-with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular mass index, left atrial volume index and heart rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In multivariable analyses (regression coefficient (95% confidence interval)), the lowest eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid quartiles compared with the highest quartiles were cross-sectionally associated with lower LVEF. Lower eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid concentrations were associated with higher heart rate: 3.7 b.p.m. (1.5, 6.0; P for trend <0.001) and 3.4 b.p.m. (1.2, 5.6; P for trend 0.001), respectively. Multivariate longitudinal analyses showed a significant trend across quartiles for alpha-linolenic acid in relation to LVEF. The lowest linoleic acid quartile was significantly associated with a decreased LVEF of -4.0% compared with the highest quartile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found no strong evidence of longitudinal associations of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid with echocardiographic measures, however, lower concentrations of alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid were associated with decreased LVEF. These results provide evidence for a potential protective role of alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid in relation to systolic function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, EMGO Institute, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Reinders
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van Ballegooijen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Elshorbagy
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Refsum
authors.forename: R M A
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dekker
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nijpels
authors.forename: C D A
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Stehouwer
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Brouwer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D004452:Echocardiography; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006339:Heart Rate; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid